Vijay Singh says Tiger Woods' supremacy will continue to go unchallenged unless players stop admiring the American and get themselves up to his standard.
Woods, 32, has won six consecutive tournament wins and has talked of completing the season unbeaten.
Singh, preparing for the Johnnie Walker Classic in India, told BBC Sport: "It's up to us to give ourselves a kick up the butt, play well and beat him.
"If you stay back and admire him you're never going to get up there."
Singh added: "That's what is happening with a lot of players."
Singh was the last player to hold the world number one mantle before it was recaptured by Woods in March 2005.